Means for the partial restriction of the arms of children suffering from infantile eczema and the like



Nov. 14, 1961 G. J. ADAM MEANS FOR THE PARTIAL RESTRICTION OF THE ARMS OF CHILDREN SUFFERING FROM INFANTILE ECZEMA AND THE LIKE FiledOct. 15, 1959 United States Patent MEANS FOR THE PARTIAL RESTRICTION OF THE ARMS OF CIHLDREN SUFFERING FROM lNFANTILE ECZEMA AND THE LIKE Grace Johnstone Adam, Royal Alexander Hospital For Children, Bridge Road, Camperdown, near Sydney, New South Wales, Australia Filed Oct. 15, 1959, Ser. No. 846,583 4 Claims. (Cl. 128-133) This invention relates to means for the partial restriction of the arms of children suffering from infantile eczema and the like, particularly infants ranging in age from about five months to two years, although suitable for application to children of other ages.

The normal method of restriction of the arms in the treatment in acute cases of infantile eczema consists in bandaging and tying the child down, usually spreadeagled on a bed, so as to prevent such child from scratching himself and causing irritation and injury to body parts. This method of treatment restricts the movement of the limbs, hands and other parts and is rather trying to such child, is generally disadvantageous to development and is very inconvenient.

The present invention has been specially devised to provide means for use as above referred to in the treatment of infantile eczema and the like, whereby such treatment is facilitated and rendered muchmore satisfactory with less inconvenience and discomfort to the patient, and said patient allowed full movement of the shoulders and wrists and some movement also of the elbows. Said means are of simple form, able to be readily made, and at economical cost, are durable, able to be properly cleansed, and easy to fit. Other advantages will be apparent from the following description.

According to this invention, the means for the partial restriction of the arms of children suffering from infantile eczema and the like, consist of one or more sleeve members each formed in sections of suitable flexible material hingedly connected together transversely and having adjacent their longitudinal edges a series of spaced holes through which a lace or lace or the like is or are threaded, and extended from side to side to draw the sections into a suitable sleeve-like shaping and to retain the required shaping, the arrangement being such that when the sleeve members are in position on the arms of a patient a restricted bending movement only is permitted by reason of the hinging while the arms are protectively covered, and when the lacing is slackened the said sleeve members can open out toward their original shaping.

it is preferable to provide a series of air holes in the sleeve members in addition to the lacing holes and the end of each sleeve member to be fitted adjacent the shoulder may be suitably recessed transversely to provide clearance with the arm.

in order to describe the invention more fully, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a preferred form of the sleeve member shaped as in use, while FIGURE 2 is a face view of such members shown in the flat and unlaced.

FIGURES 3 and 4 are schematic front and rear views respectively, showing the tethering of. the sleeve members to a jacket for fitting on a patient.

The sleeve members are each formed of two oblong shaped sections 5 and 6 which are made in any suitable manner, as for example either moulded or cut from flat sheet plastic material having desirable flexibility and springiness so that after release from a bent shaping they tend to return towards a flat position. A suitable plastic is one of white colour and sturdy thickness, say

at least inch gauge, although not confined to any particular colour or thickness.

The outer corners are rounded at 7 and section 6 has a transverse recess 8 therein and also two tethering slots 9 while at the opposite sides of each section there are lacing holes 10 arranged near the edges in line and suitably spaced. Inwardly of the lacing holes 10 there are a series of air vents 11 and these may be in two rows at one side and one row at the other side.

The two sleeve sections 5 and 6 are assembled together in line with a small space left between the adjacent edges and hingedly connected together by means of adhesive tape 12 or strapping which is arranged along both faces of the said sections and over the side edges and thereby presents a flexible hinge-like connection between the said sections allowing limited movement of one section in relation to the other in a longitudinal direction. Ari adhesive cellulose tape is suitable for effecting this hinging.

The sleeve members 5-6 are adapted to be shaped into a channel-like or sleeve manner and be retained at a set position by means of a lace 13 which is threaded through the lacing holes iii of each of the sections 5-6 starting and finishing at the one end where the lace ends are knotted together at 14 in FIGURE 1. In the lacing, the lace 13 is led over and across the edge of each of the sections 5-6, threaded through a hole on the opposite side and led backwards and forwards as seen in FIGURE 1. Where the hinge formation 12 is located the lace is knotted on either side thereof and looped across between the knots as seen at 15 and thereby leaves the hinging free of any restrictive effect. By adjustment of the. lace 13 the distance apart of the side edges of the sleeve members can be effected to suit requirements as well as the curvature of the said member.

The laced sleeve 56 is now ready to be worn and is not fitted next to the skin where there is active irritation of the arm but arranged over a dressing or covering and the flexible hinge 12 is located adjacent the elbow while the recess 8 is located at the under portion of the arm at the shoulder end and the space between the laced sides is located at the top or outside as seen in FIGURES 3 and 4 with the double row of air vents 11 to the front.

These air vents 11 are not limited to any precise disposal and may be arranged in any other manner about the sleeve member 5-6 as long as the arrangement does not affect the smoothness of the outer surface which could be rubbed on the face of a patient.

The sleeve member 5-6 may be tethered loosely in 3 and 4 the pair of sleeve members 5-6 are shown as tethered each to a jacket 16 by a cord or lace such jacket 16 being worn by the patient.

It will be understood from the above description and the drawings that the movement of the arms can be controlled in an effective manner without discomfort to the patient such as a small child Who cannot cause injury or irritation to itself or affected parts.

These sleeve members can be applied to other uses apart from that before described, as for example, on mentally affected patients.

I claim:

1. Means for the partial restriction of the arms of children suffering from infantile eczema and the like consisting of sleeve members each formed in sections of suitable flexible material, said sections being hingedly connected together transversely, said sections being spaced a short distance apart at said hinged position and being hinged together by means of adhesive tape, said adhesive tape being applied over both sides of said sections at said hinged position and said sections having their longitudinal edges formed with a series of spaced holes extending therethrough, a lace threaded through said holes, said lace extending from side to side of said sections to draw said sections into a suitable sleeve-like shape and to retain said shape, whereby when said sleeve members are in position on the arms of a patient, a restricted bending movement only is permitted by reason of said hingirig while the arms are protectively covered and whereby when said lacing is slackened the said sleeve members can open out towards their original shaping.

2. Means for the partial restriction of the arms of children sufiering from infantile eczema and the like comprising, sleeve members, each of said sleeve members being formed of sections of suitable flexible material, said sections having a pair of opposed end edges, said end edges being spaced 2. short distance apart and flexible hinging means secured to said sections adjacent said edges and bridging said space between said opposed end edges, said flexible hinging means extending throughout substantially the Whole of the extent of said opposed end edges, said sections adjacent their longitudinal edges being formed with a series of spaced holes therethrough, a lace threaded through said spaced holes and extended back and forth between said longitudinal edges to draw said sections into a suitable sleeve-like shape and to retain said shape whereby when said sleeve members are positioned on the arms of a patient restricted bending movement only is permitted by reason of said hinging while said arms are protectively covered and whereby when said lacing is slackened said sleeve members can open out towards their original shaping.

3. Means for the pzntial restriction of the arms of children suficring from infantile eczema and the like comprising, sleeve members, each of said sleeve members being formed of sections of suitable flexible material, said sections having a pair of opposed end edges, said end edges being spaced a short distance apart and flexible hinging means secured to said sections adjacent said edges and bridging said space between said opposed end edges, said hinging means being in the form of tape-like material having side portions thereof adhered to said sections, said sections adjacent their longitudinal edges being formed with a series of spaced holes therethrough, a lace threaded through said spaced holes and extended back and forth between said longitudinal edges to draw said sections into a suitable sleeve-like shape and to retain said shape whereby when said sleeve members are positioned on the arms of a patient restricted bending movement only is permitted by reason of said hinging while said arms are protectively covered and whereby when said lacing is slackened said sleeve members can open out towards their original shaping.

4. Means for the partial restriction of the arms of children as in claim 3, said tape-like material being secured to the interior surfaces of said sections adjacent said end edges.

References Qitcd in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

